Carcasses from this year’s ACT kangaroo cull will be sent to a wildlife park in NSW to feed endangered species.
Speaking to ABC radio this morning, ACT Parks and Conservation Service director Daniel Iglesias confirmed the park, which he declined to name, would take “several hundred” kangaroo carcasses.
“[There] has been the criticism which I think has been well-founded in that we weren’t using the carcasses, and it’s a resource, why not use them,” Mr Iglesias said.
“At least we’ve got a process now that we’re keen to develop over the coming years to get to 100% of carcasses used.”
The Government will aim to cull 1,568 Eastern Grey Kangaroos from six priority reserves: Mount Ainslie; Mount Majura; East Jerrabomberra Grasslands; Farrer Ridge; Goorooyarroo; and Mulligan’s Flat Woodland Sanctuary.
Mr Iglesias said the number of kangaroos set to be culled is lower than previous years. He put that down to “amazing” yearly rainfall which has meant more feed for the animals, and kangaroo numbers starting to reach “sustainable levels”.
“Now is something that we’ve said that would happen if we’re consistent … once we get these numbers to a sustainable level it means that we don’t need to cull as much to keep them at that level.”
While there are some sites in the ACT where “little or no” management will be required this year, kangaroo populations remain above sustainable numbers in some areas.
“Nobody likes shooting kangaroos; however, we accept it’s the most humane method of kangaroo population management currently available to the ACT Government in its role as a responsible land manager.”
The annual cull began on Sunday 16 May and is set to run to 1 August at the latest. The affected nature reserves will be closed in the evenings from Sunday to Thursday while the cull is carried out.
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